J. W. Calder

J. W. Calder (1918-20, DipAgr, BAgr, MSc), the Bledsloe Medallist, 1955. Mr Calder was educated at Timaru Boys’ High School before coming to Canterbury Agricultural College. He was appointed to CAC staff as a general lecturer and assistant plant breeder 1923. Thirty-five years of service on the staff. Assistant Director of CAC 1936 to 1958. He was appointed Professor of Agricultural Botany 1955. President New Zealand Grassland Association 1955. Counsellor for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Colombo Plan.

John William Calder, known according to individual preference as Jack or "Torchy",  came  to  Lincoln  40  years  ago  and  in  1918 he  was  one  of  the  first  group  of  Education  Department  bursars.

L. J. Wild, who was on the staff then, is credited with setting this young man's sights at the right elevation. His course first at Lincoln led to the B.Agr. degree and the College  Diploma  in  Agriculture; later at Canterbury College (while completing the then "back  to front" agricultural  degree )  he concurrently took science and graduated M.Sc. with a thesis that became the first of his works in eco­logical botany.

Appointed to the staff at Lincoln in 1923 he thereafter had  a remarkable sequence of appointments, for in  those  years  a  total staff of half a dozen had to adapt their  outlook  to  suit changing needs. He was first a housemaster in times when housemasters were fashionable and influential, and also assistant biologist. For short periods he was a teacher of engineering, surveying, book­ keeping, economics. When Dr Hilgendorf's plant breeding work commenced "J.W.C." became his assistant and he personally is credited with a part in the work that soon led to improved cocks­foot and wheat. By 1936 he was in charge of field husbandry and also the Assistant Director of the College.  In 1949 he was made an Associate Professor of the College and in 1955 he was honoured with the University appointment of Professor of Agricultural Botany. He had been Assistant Director for 22 years and on three occasions was called upon to take charge during periods of absence or change-over of the principal.

Torchy was the all-round practitioner of practical and technical agriculture, of the kind that Lincoln needed prior to the modern times of specialisation. As a teacher of students, extension or liaison man with farmers, as a scientist, he commanded entire respect.   His  original  contribution  to  knowledge  was  concerned at the outset with vegetation studies of the mountain region including Danthonia grasses but in recent  years  his published  work was more applied to husbandry, including studies on pastures, wheat and  subterranean  clover.

Some  might  agree  that  his  greatest  contribution  was   by the transfer process of research, directed  to  influence  younger  men who asked him to guide their Masterate courses.  In  this way  Jack Calder over the years set about a score of young men, academically provided with an M.Agr.Sc.,  on  their  way  and  an  appraisal  of  the list suggests that he endowed them well. However, he served all students well and was  of  the  opinion  that  Diploma  classes  deserved no  less  effort  on  his  part  as  lecturer.

He was integral in College and local community life. Through­ out, he and Mrs Calder lived at Lincoln and brought up their family there. At one time or other he had a part in every phase of institutional life and was especially dominant in rugby and athletics, for as a student he had been a double University Blue in these as well as a provincial rugby  player.

He was President of the Old Students' Association in 1940-41. In 1955 he was awarded the   Bledisloe   Medal. He decided to  retire  when  entitled  to,  although  when  he stepped  down  on  March  31,  1958  he  seemed   as   fresh   in mien and as youthful in spirit as ever before.   He was accorded a public farewell in the Refectory and presentations were made on behalf of the Board of Governors, the staff and the students. Thus there went from Lincoln a man to be remembered for his integrity, his understanding and kindness toward fellow men. No one can remember him losing his temper or being disagreeable in his attitude to others. He was therefore unique and with his departure the team became- at least f or a space, leaderless and the institution bereft.

"Torchy" and Mrs Calder travelled by air to England in May, stopping over in Australia, Greece and Italy and he hopes to remain in Britain f or a few years. He has an appointment as agricultural consultant to a large seed organisation and is now happily occupied among English farmers. At the farewell to him which was part of the Reunion in May, he reminded us that he will always be an Old Student and therefore a part of the College.  The  strength  of Lincoln, that is a rather indefinable property, has been  forged  over 80 years by a small number of men and in half of that time J. W. Calder was an  influence,  character  and  personality  second  to  none in the College story. Source: 1958 Canterbury Agricultural College Magazine, p104-106.